Double blow for Liverpool with Daniel Sturridge to MISS Real Madrid and Chelsea games

STILL GROUNDED: Daniel Sturridge is forced to sit out a vital week for Liverpool [GETTY]

The Reds striker will not be over his calf injury in time to make the trip to take on Real Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League

He is also out of next Saturday's Premier League clash with former club Chelsea.

And that means there is little chance of him being available either for Roy Hodgson's England squad to face Slovenia in a crunch Euro 2016 qualifier on November 15.

Sturridge, 25, has been absent since picking up a thigh injury while on Three Lions duty in September.

He returned to training with the Reds two weeks ago, but hurt his calf in the warm-up of his first full session back with the squad.

Kop boss Brendan Rodgers said then that his star striker would be out for between two and four weeks - and it seems the worst-case scenario is now most likely.

Rodgers said: "I don't think he will be fit for next week.

“When he comes back, hopefully we will have him for the rest of the season”

Brendan Rodgers

"We will work with him and hopefully we will get that bit of luck when he comes back.

"When he comes back, hopefully we will have him for the rest of the season."

The news will pile more pressure on Mario Balotelli to really spark into life following a slow start to his Liverpool career, with the Merseysiders only seventh in the Premier League and struggling to qualify from their Champions League group.

Injury-prone Sturridge, who is also out of this weekend's clash with Newcastle, said this week that his problems could be hereditary.

The England forward has had his fair share of lay-offs at Liverpool, as well as at previous clubs Chelsea and Manchester City.

Rodgers added: "I can only concentrate on his injury now.

"He's just recovering and we will see the length of time it takes.

"I am not an expert on any genetic code, or medicine, so I can't comment.

"When you have that talent, you just have to keep yourself fit and available as you possibly can."